I agree with you but you really do sound like a right-wing talking head raising Kerry expectations.

I've watched the Kerry-Weld debates. Dude doesn't back down and he does a great job of turning attacks back on the attacker. Although I'm not so sure his Vietnam schtick ("I've seen people die") is going to be as effective as it may have been in the past. If Kerry hits a home run this will be a new race because the story will be how he has turned it around. If he doesn't, then Bush wins because there isn't a new story.